Day 28, Spivey Gap to Curley Maple Gap Shelter

After leaving Spivey Gap at about 8:00 a.m., I followed the trail across a couple streams and up a short climb. It was smooth and easy walking.

Just as yesterday the sky was mostly sunny, and though the day started chilly the temperature was warming nicely.

There weren't many views to see in the morning, but in one break between the trees I could see ahead a mountain with an odd name, No Business Knob. As the story goes, it was given its name by a hiker who struggled to climb it through briars and brush. He said he had no business being there.

There were a few blowdowns on the trail. One in particular was a large tree that looked as though it would be difficult to climb over. At first I tried to find a pathway around it.

I brushed myself off, breathed a sigh of relief, and continued on, stepping carefully as I crossed the stream and moss-covered rocks.

A short distance later I reached No Business Knob Shelter. It was the first one in this section of trail maintained by the Tennessee Eastman Hiking and Canoeing Club.

Unlike other shelters I've seen so far, this one had walls of concrete blocks. The U.S. Forest Service constructed it in 1963.

It was hard for me to imagine how all of the concrete blocks were hauled here, more than three miles from the nearest road.

More unusual than the shelter was what was inside: a graffiti board. The shelter maintainers added it recently as an attempt to control inconsiderate hikers who write on shelter walls. The board seemed to be working, as it was the only place where names, messages and drawings had been left.

The trail began another climb, but again, it was not steep.

Along the way, I saw the first rhododendron blossoms I've seen this year. They're often pink, but these were all of the white variety.

About halfway down to the river I was met by a young woman named AJ who was hiking the other direction. She had a large backpack, but it wasn't very full. It turned out, she was carrying snacks packaged in small ziplock bags. She was delivering trail magic directly to hikers on the trail.

Reaching the river, I crossed a road and headed to Uncle Johnny's, a hiker hostel and outfitter store. I didn't need anything after my resupply a couple days ago in Erwin and it was too early to stop for the night, but I went inside to buy a Gatorade. It was starting to get very warm, so now was a good time to stop for a cold drink.

Inside, I ran into Tentpole, the hiker I shared a room with the night before last.

I hung out there for a short time and talked to Rafiki, then got going again. It was only two o'clock, which was plenty of time for me to get to Curley Maple Gap Shelter, just under five miles away.

As the trail began to climb away from the river I saw mountain laurel blossoms. These too were the first I had seen on the trail this spring.

This section of the trail criss-crossed a stream four times over footbridges, including one that was constructed as an Eagle Scout project.

Several hikers were at Curley Maple Gap Shelter when I arrived, and a few more appeared soon after. I pitched my tent nearby, while many of the hikers slept in the double-deck shelter.

Among the hikers staying here tonight were Tentpole, Hobbes, Silvertoes, and Skittles and Jeff.

After I finished dinner and hung my bear bag, I discovered that by hiking up the trail a hundred yards or so I was able to get a sufficient cell signal to call my wife. It was good to hear her voice.